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September 2: When the War Began
A release date has been set for this highly anticipated Australian film
If you were an Australian teenager in the nineties who had not yet heard of the phenomenon that would become Harry Potter, the chances are you may have got stuck into John Marsden's franchise of novels, which kicked off with Tomorrow: When The War Began.
There was a significant amount of buzz surrounding this series last year when it was confirmed that the first book would be transformed for the big screen.
Shooting having wrapped, Tomorrow: When The War Began is currently in pre-production and set to hit Australian cinemas on September 2.
In a recent preview screening of footage from the film, producer Michael Boughen said that this film represents a huge step forward for commercial Australian cinema as it is based on a book which has sold nearly two million copies in Australia and New Zealand alone.
Boughen said the film's premise is unique for both a local and international screenplay. "It's a classic coming of age story, set against an extraordinary war setting. It's large in scope."
The film will tell the story of eight high schoolers who return from a trip in the bush to find their houses deserted and access to their families and the outside world cut off. They gradually realise that their home has been invaded and occupied by a foreign power.
Adapting this story, which promises to be an action-packed affair, was Stuart Beattie whose screenwriting credits include Australia, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl and Collateral. Beattie also makes his directorial debut with the film.
"Shooting Tomorrow was by far the toughest experience of my career, but also the most enjoyable... I'll be forever grateful to John Marsden not only for creating this story but for trusting me to bring it to the screen," Beattie said.
Helping Beattie bring Marsden's story to the big screen is the cast comprising a slew of up-and-coming local and international talent including Caitlin Stasey (Neighbours, The Sleepover Club), Rachel Hurd-Wood (Peter Pan, Dorian Gray), Lincoln Lewis (Home & Away) and Phoebe Tonkin (H2O - Just Add Water - pictured).
Being the first in a series of seven books, one cannot help but suspect that Australia may have a commercially viable movie franchise on their hands but Boughen is quick to dispel such a prediction.
"We're not looking to start a franchise here. We're in the business of making this book as successful as we can. Any success beyond that is off the basis of this first film," Boughen said.